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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
News article12 April 2022Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

EU to discuss growing food insecurity with the UN

Commissioner Lenarčič
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Christophe Licoppe).

Global food insecurity continues to deteriorate due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating long term trends of growing insecurity, climate change and economic hardship.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, will travel to Rome on 12 April to discuss the worsening global food crisis with the representatives of specialised agencies of the United Nations.

As of September 2021, 161 million people were already facing acute food insecurity worldwide. The UN estimates that an additional 8 to 13 million persons across the globe can become undernourished due to the ongoing war. The food prices already jumped nearly 13% in March to a new record high.

Commissioner Lenarčič said: “The rising food prices are putting the most vulnerable people across the globe in an even worse situation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine increases the pressure on food systems and threatens millions worldwide with hunger. We are now at a turning point and urgent action is required. The EU is committed to strengthening our partnership with the United Nations to ensure that we leave no one behind and continue to provide humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable while keeping our longer term engagement to address the root causes of food crises.”

During his visit, the Commissioner will meet the representative of the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Committee on World Food Security.

He will be joined by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie. Lenarčič will also meet with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio and Minister of Agriculture Stefano Patuanelli.

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